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Council approves rezoning and annexation for housing development and new Gooseneck Implement site

Kenmare’s city limits expanded last week, following action taken in a special city council meeting held June 27th.

7/06/11 (Wed)

By Caroline Downs

 

Kenmare’s city limits expanded last week, following action taken in a special city council meeting held June 27th.

 

City council members approved two annexation requests on first reading. One of the requests included nearly 80 acres currently owned by Jim Jorgenson east of U.S. Highway 52 and proposed for the Annabelle Highlands residential and commercial development.

 

The second request included 40 acres owned by Gooseneck Implement east of U.S. 52, intended as the new location for a retail and service center.

 

Both properties, which were formerly zoned as agricultural property, were recommended for rezoning by the Kenmare Planning and Zoning Commission in a meeting held just prior to the city council’s special meeting. The Annabelle Highlands site was recommended for residential and commercial zoning, and the Gooseneck site, known as Outlot 2, for commercial zoning.

 

A 94.77-acre tract immediately east of the proposed Gooseneck shop location, known as Outlot 3, was recommended to remain zoned for agricultural use at this time. Outlot 3 was not considered for annexation.

 

City scraps old

ordinance book

Council members approved, on first reading, a motion to repeal the city’s original ordinance book, as amended, and adopt the North Dakota League of Cities ordinance book as a draft, along with a new permit fee schedule, for Kenmare. Before the League of Cities ordinance book is adopted in a second reading, the new permit fee schedule will be amended specifically for Kenmare. “We have to get these fees up to date,” said Mayor Roger Ness.

 

According to city attorney Jim Maxson and Ness, the cities of Drake, Velva and Mohall have taken similar action to update their ordinances with the League of Cities ordinance book.

 

City selling lots on bids

Council members directed public works director Mike Thompson to post a listing of lots for sale by the city of Kenmare. The properties include lots that have been cleared of debris and buildings at the city’s expense.

 

The council approved a motion by Todd Ankenbauer to open the bids on July 11th, to reserve the right to reject any and all bids, and to require the bid winners to develop or incorporate the lot into their adjacent property within one year, or the lot would be returned to the city without a refund to the buyer.

 

Some members of the city council expressed concern about the intentions of potential buyers. “There are buyers who will buy these lots and turn around and resell them for big bucks,” said Chuck Leet. “We have several of those types in Kenmare right now.”

 

Plan makes space for

mobile homes, camping,

rental housing, mancamps

City engineer Ryan Ackerman showed the council a draft concept plan to develop several city lots north of the old landfill to support workforce housing, mobile home housing and rental housing. The lots, between Division and Soo Streets, are currently owned by the city of Kenmare, Butch Norrie and Russ Gilson.

 

The sketch included space for multiplexes with garages, mobile homes, workforce housing (a man camp), and an RV park or campground.

 

Ackerman emphasized the plan was merely a concept at this point. The city has not acquired additional property or made plans to begin the development.

 

He noted the city would benefit from relocating the current campground from its present site along U.S. Highway 52. “This gives the city an opportunity to...develop that space along Highway 52 for commercial use, as it should be,” he said.

 

Need to conserve water

Council members, Ackerman and Ness discussed the “boil water” order issued by the North Dakota Department of Health on June 25th, following possible contamination of the Minot water supply. Ackerman reported the valves from Minot’s water lines into the NAWS pipeline were closed on June 23rd, during the mandatory evacuation but before the Mouse River crest.

 

He and Ness emphasized residents, businesses and ag interests in Kenmare needed to conserve water. Ness said Kenmare’s old well was not being used, and that Minot’s water supply could be unavailable to Kenmare for up to 10 days.

 

According to Ness and Ackerman, the Kenmare swimming pool was safe for use. The chlorine used to treat the pool water would destroy the microorganisms that had possibly contaminated the Minot water supply.

 

In other business:

• The council approved a Renaissance Zone application for a residence owned by Kacy Keysor.

 

• The council approved a gaming request from Greenwing Day for $500.

 

• Ackerman distributed copies of a proposed bonding agreement between the city and interested developers. “This would be something to protect the city’s interests,” he said. Council members will review the document.